Middle East - Anthony Ham [543]
Qualified teachers should also check out Dave’s ESL Café (www.eslcafe.com) for regular job postings.
Working at a Hostel
In Israel (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Eilat) and various places in Turkey (particularly İstanbul, Selçuk, Bodrum, Fethiye and Cappadocia), it’s usually possible to pick up work in a hostel, typically cleaning rooms or looking after reception. It doesn’t pay much, but it does usually get you a free room, a meal or two a day plus some beer money. The only way to find this kind of work is to ask around.
Transport in the Middle East
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
ENTERING THE MIDDLE EAST
AIR
LAND
SEA
TOURS
AIR
BICYCLE
BOAT
BUS
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
HITCHING
LOCAL TRANSPORT
TRAIN
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
This section tells you how to reach the Middle East by air, land and sea from other parts of the world, and outlines the routes for onward travel from the region. For details of travel between one country and its neighbours within the region, see the Getting There & Away section at the end of the relevant country chapter.
ENTERING THE MIDDLE EAST
For visa requirements, see the Visa section of each country’s Directory; information on crossing borders is covered in each chapter’s Transport section.
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THINGS CHANGE…
The information in this chapter is particularly vulnerable to change. Check directly with the airline or a travel agent to make sure you understand how a fare (and ticket you may buy) works and be aware of the security requirements for international travel. Shop carefully. The details given in this chapter should be regarded as pointers and are not a substitute for your own careful, up-to-date research.
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Please note that neither Israeli citizens nor anyone with an Israeli stamp in their passport will be allowed to enter Iran, Iraq, Lebanon or Syria. For advice on how to get around this decades-old Middle Eastern conundrum, see the boxed text, Click here.
Return to beginning of chapter
AIR
All the major European and Middle Eastern, and some Asian, airlines serve the principal cities of the region; the most frequent flights head for Cairo, İstanbul and Tel Aviv. Another route to consider is via the Gulf region, thanks to the burgeoning power (and growing routes) of Emirates, Qatar Airways and Gulf Air.
A proliferation of budget or low-cost carriers, especially in Turkey and the Gulf region, has revolutionised flying to and within the region. Many of these fly into Middle Eastern cities that are not connected to the outside world by national airlines; others offer domestic services, while others are charter airlines.
Airlines
The following all fly into the Middle East:
Afriqiyah Airways (www.afriqiyah.aero)
Air Arabia (www.airarabia.com) UAE low-cost airline.
Air Canada (www.aircanada.com)
Air France (www.airfrance.com)
Al-Buraq (www.buraqair.com; Libya) Private Libyan Airline.
Alitalia (www.alitalia.com)
American Airlines (www.aa.com)
Atlasjet (www.atlasjet.com) Turkish international charter airline.
Austrian Airlines (www.aua.com)
Bahrain Air (www.bahrainair.net)
British Airways (www.britishairways.com)
Corendon Airlines (www.corendon-airlines.com) Turkish airline with flights around Europe.
Delta Air Lines (www.delta.com)
EgyptAir (www.egyptair.com.eg)
El Al (www.elal.co.il)
Emirates (www.emirates.com)
Ethiopian Airlines (www.ethiopianairlines.com)
Free Bird Airlines (www.freebirdairlines.com) Turkish charter airline.
Golden International Airlines (www.goldenairlines.com) Turkish charter airline.
Gulf Air (www.gulfair.com)
Inter Airlines (www.interekspres.com) Turkish charter airline.
Iran Air (www.iranair.com)
Iran Aseman (www.iaa.ir)
Jazeera Airways (www.jazeeraairways.com) Kuwaiti low-cost airline that flies to all Middle Eastern countries except Israel and Iraq.
Kenya Airways (www.kenya-airways.com)
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (www.klm.com)
Kuwait Airways (www.kuwait-airways.com)
Libyan Arab Airlines (www.In.aero)
Lotus Air (www.lotus-air.com) Egyptian charter airline.
Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.com)